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Bladder tumours among rodent operatives handling ANTU
British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.)
|October 2, 1982
Summary
Early rodenticide ANTU (alpha-naphthylthiourea) contaminated with beta-naphthylamine caused urothelial tumors in UK workers. Even pure ANTU is mutagenic, necessitating a safety review of this widely used chemical.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Occupational Health
- Carcinogenesis
Background:
- The rodenticide alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) was widely used in the UK from the late 1940s to 1967.
- Early ANTU formulations contained up to 0.2% beta-naphthylamine, a known carcinogen.
- ANTU was withdrawn due to suspected carcinogenicity, but its current safety profile requires re-evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between occupational exposure to ANTU and urothelial tumors.
- To assess the carcinogenic potential of ANTU, including historical and current formulations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case study of rodent operatives exposed to ANTU.
- Review of historical product composition and impurity profiles.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on cancer incidence among exposed workers.
Main Results:
- Fourteen cases of urothelial tumors were identified among rodent operatives exposed to ANTU.
- In one district, 4 out of 27 staff (14.8%) developed tumors; in another, 2 out of 10 (20%) were affected.
- These findings strongly suggest a cancer hazard associated with early ANTU use.
Conclusions:
- Historical ANTU, particularly when contaminated with beta-naphthylamine, posed a significant cancer risk to users.
- Even pure ANTU exhibits mutagenic properties in laboratory tests (Ames test).
- The safety of current ANTU products warrants further investigation and potential regulatory review.